The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 19, May 7, 2006, Article 15

O. P. EKLUND, JOSEPH BARNET AND THE SECRET SERVICE GOLD FILES

Len Augsberger writes: "While looking through the Secret Service
gold investigation files in the National Archives, I came across a
letter from 1941 regarding the activities of O.P. Eklund and Joseph
Barnet, both American Numismatic Association officials at the time.
It seems that Eklund managed to purchase, through an intermediary,
one thousand dollars in gold coins at face value from a mentally ill
elderly woman who was afraid she might get into trouble with the
government for having them.  The coins were then flipped to Barnet
for a six hundred dollar profit, about the same value represented
by the bullion in the coins.

The U.S. attorney declined to prosecute, feeling that it was a
legitimate numismatic transaction.  The conclusion is curious given
the facts of the case, especially since the coins were not sold at
a premium to melt values.  If anyone would like to pursue this further
I would be happy to furnish a copy of the letter (written to Frank
Wilson, chief of the Secret Service) in return for a self-addressed
stamped envelope, just contact me at leonard_augsburger@hotmail.com."

[I think this investigation was mentioned in one of the books on
the 1933 Double Eagle, but I'm not sure and haven't checked
the indexes.  -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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